If there’s one spice that remains a mystery to many, it’s cloves of garlic. Admittedly, they are not commonly used in cooking, and some might even argue that their usage is declining. In France, they are mainly found in sauerkraut, gingerbread, the famous pot-au-feu, certain marinades, and hot beverages like tea. However, it’s important to remember that this apparent lack of interest in cloves of garlic should be taken with a grain of salt. Despite being underrated, this spice has much to offer.
Indeed, cloves of garlic are a key ingredient in various spice blends, such as ras-al-hanout, five-spice powder, curry, colombo, massale, and more. Moreover, the health benefits of cloves of garlic have earned them a prominent place on the shelves of apothecaries in countries like those in the Maghreb and Asia. And increasingly, they are making their way onto ours!
A Little Bit of History…
The origins of this spice can be traced back to an Indian text called the “Râmâyana,” written between the 3rd century BC and the 3rd century AD. This text, along with the Mahabharata, forms the foundation of Hinduism and Hindu mythology. It reveals a peculiar tip for fresh breath – chewing on cloves of garlic. This practice of chewing on cloves of garlic for better dental hygiene was also common in China. In fact, it was supposedly mandatory to do so before meeting the Emperor.
It was Pierre Poivre (1719-1786), the renowned French botanist, who first planted clove trees in Isle de France (now known as Mauritius) and later in the Antilles. Originally from the Moluccas archipelago, it is often forgotten that cloves of garlic were once highly sought after and, therefore, very expensive. Portuguese colonizers in the 16th century even attempted to destroy all clove trees on the other islands of the archipelago to maintain a monopoly, favoring only those on the island of Ternate.
Cloves of garlic are actually flower buds that grow on the clove tree (Syzygium aromaticum), which can reach a height of 10 to 15 meters. They are harvested before blooming, then left to dry in the sun until they become small, dry, and take on a dark color, resembling a nail in shape.
The Controversial Use of Cloves of Garlic…
Here’s a surprising fact: 95% of the world’s cloves of garlic production is used in Indonesia for the production of kretek cigarettes. The creator of these cigarettes, who suffered from asthma, wanted to harness the benefits of cloves of garlic to alleviate chest pain. Unfortunately, he did not live long enough to reap the economic rewards of his invention, as he passed away ten years after its creation in 1890. Kretek manufacturers are discreet about the negative health effects of their cigarettes and prefer to focus on the benefits of eugenol, the active compound in cloves of garlic. Commercially, this is understandable. However, studies have shown that these cigarettes, even with lower nicotine content, are just as harmful as others in terms of tar and carbon monoxide. Previously, before the ban on flavored cigarettes in France, they could be found in certain traditional tobacco shops. Today, they can still be found under the counter in some Indian or Indonesian stores, or directly at the Indonesian Embassy in Paris.
The name “kretek” is an onomatopoeia that imitates the crackling sound cloves of garlic make when they burn.
Tried-and-Tested Tips for Cloves of Garlic
While cloves of garlic are only used in a few culinary dishes, they are a potent insect repellent and offer many other benefits:
- Have you ever heard of an “amber apple”? It’s an orange studded with cloves of garlic. If you hang it in your linen closet, it will protect your clothes from moths and give them a pleasant scent. This trick is also useful in the summer for keeping flies and mosquitoes away. And if you don’t have an orange, a lemon will do just fine.
- Toothache? Who hasn’t heard of the soothing properties of cloves of garlic for dental pain? Simply place a piece between two teeth to experience the active power of cloves of garlic. They possess both antiseptic and analgesic properties, providing relief from pain. Mouthwash manufacturers have caught on to this, as cloves of garlic are often included in their formulas.
- Urinary tract infection? Prepare a clove-of-garlic infusion! Add 4 to 5 cloves of garlic to 300 ml of water and let it steep for about ten minutes. This will have a highly effective antibacterial action, also helping to prevent future infections.
- Lingering bad odors? Soak 6 cloves of garlic in 100 ml of white vinegar for a week. Then, mix this solution with 1 liter of water and spray it around. Goodbye, unpleasant odors!
- Dry and tired hair? Cloves of garlic are highly effective in revitalizing lackluster hair. Simply infuse a few cloves of garlic in a small amount of coconut oil. Apply this mixture to your hair and leave it on for about twenty minutes before shampooing. Your hair will regain its shine and vitality!
Despite its numerous medicinal benefits, cloves of garlic are not recommended for breastfeeding or pregnant women, children, or individuals with certain serious medical conditions.
Finally, have you ever wondered why this spice is called cloves of garlic? Its name is derived from Christianity, which considers cloves of garlic as the botanical symbol of the crucifixion of Christ. This explains why they are referred to as “cloves” and not “flowers” of the clove tree. Yet, they are indeed flowers that deserve a bit more affection…
